Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP AMIK 09’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, violet-colored ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the third week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP AMIK 09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ is a product of a cross between the male parent ‘PPP REML 09’ (which has been submitted concurrently with ‘PPP AMIK 09’) and the female parent ‘Gedi One Ibe’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,873). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September of 2008 in a greenhouse in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ by terminal cuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PPP AMIK 09.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PPP AMIK 09’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, violet, decorative-type inflorescences;     -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the third         week of September;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are similar to plants of the male parent variety, ‘PPP REML 09’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are shorter but have a wider plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ has darker green foliage. Additionally, the inflorescences of ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are smaller than the inflorescences of the male parent. Finally, the ray florets of ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are a medium violet color compared to the male parent's bright purple ray florets.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘Gedi One Ibe’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are smaller in both height and plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP AMIK 09’ has longer inflorescence longevity. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘PPP AMIK 09’ are violet compared to the white florets of the female parent. Finally, ‘PPP AMIK 09’ naturally blooms three weeks earlier than the female parent.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Gedi Two Can’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,474), ‘PPP AMIK 09’ is larger in both height and plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP AMIK 09’ has a larger inflorescence diameter and the ray florets are a dark violet compared to the light purple florets of the comparable variety. Further, the comparable variety ‘Gedi Two Can’ has more inflorescences per lateral branch. Finally, ‘PPP AMIK 09’ blooms one week later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in the drawing illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘PPP AMIK 09’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘PPP AMIK 09’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP AMIK 09’. -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth Habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 18 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 12 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: About 4.8 mm. -   Color of lateral branches: Near Yellow Green 147A. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 26. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 135 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5.2 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Shape of blade—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.             Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage             under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 138B. Venation color under side: Near Green 138B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B. Diameter: Approximately 0.4 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the third week in             September.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             18.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—About 6 mm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 32             days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—198.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Greyed-Purple             186A. Upper surface at maturity: Near Greyed-Purple 186B.             Upper surface at fading: Near Greyed-Purple 186C. Under             surface at first opening: Near Greyed-Purple 186A. Under             surface at maturity: Near Greyed-Purple 186B. Under surface             at fading: Near Greyed-Purple 186D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 24.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Green-Yellow 1D. At maturity:             Near Yellow 2C. At fading: Near Yellow 2D. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.4 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.6 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Form.—Globose.         -   Color.—Greyed-Purple 186B. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 24.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets: Number of pistils per floret: 1. Stigma shape: 2     branched. Stigma color: Near Green-Yellow 1B. Style color: Near     Green-Yellow 1C.     -   -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm. Stamens: Absent. -   Disc florets: Number of pistils per floret: 1. Stigma shape:     Cylindric. Stigma color: Near Green-Yellow 1C. Style length:     Approximately 0.2 cm. Style color: Near Green-Yellow 1D. Number of     stamens per floret: Approximately 5. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther     color: Near Yellow 2A. Pollen color: No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP AMIK 09’ as herein illustrated and described. 